Page 181 of Love in Riverbend
“Are you sure you’re ready?” Justin asks.
A smile comes to my lips. “If I said no, could we play hooky?”
“Without question. The Tastee Freeze is down the street.”
“Hmm.” I pretend to consider his offer. “I say we don’t stand up your family, but” —I add— “I may take you up on the ice cream later.”
“Deal.” He leans close and kisses me. “That’s for luck.”
“Oh no. Do we need luck?”
As soon as Justin opens the door, Kandace and Mrs. Sheers’s conversation stops, and both sets of eyes are on us. “Hello.”
“Welcome.”
Mrs. Sheers comes forward and wraps me in a hug. “Devan. It’s so nice to see you.”
“We’re really glad you could make it,” Kandace says.
“Thank you for inviting us,” I say, stealing a peek at Justin who is grinning my direction. I extend my hand with the strawberries. “I picked these this morning.”
Mrs. Sheers takes the bowl. “Oh, there’s nothing better than fresh-picked strawberries. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Mrs. Sheers.”
“Oh no. That was my mother-in-law, God rest her soul. I’m Bridget, and Justin’s father is Randy.”
“I’m Molly.”
We all turn toward a swinging door at the end of the kitchen, still moving from Molly’s entrance. I would know Molly Richards anyway. She has the same shade of hair as her mom and uncle and her dad’s golden eyes.
“Who are you?” she asks, straight to the point.
“Molly,” Justin says, crouching down. “Come here.”
The little girl squeals as she runs into his arms, and he lifts her off the ground. Still holding her, he says, “This is my friend Devan.”
“You have friends?”
Everyone laughs.
With a chuckle in my voice, I reply, “He does. I’m his friend. May I be your friend too?”
Molly glances toward her mother for permission. From the corner of my eye, I see Kandace nod. Molly sticks out her hand. “Hi, Devan, I’m Molly, and we can be friends.”
Shaking her little hand, I grin. “It’s official.”
Justin sets her feet back on the ground and she reaches for his hand. “Uncle Justin, come see what Dad made.”
“Dax made something?” he says to Kandace.
“It is a time of miracles.” Her gaze goes to me. “Devan, please make yourself at home. You can stay with Mom and me or go with Justin. Whatever you’d like.”
“I’m curious about Mr. Richards’s creation.”
“Dax,” Kandace says.
“What Dax made.”
